Seven players with a point to prove in second Test

The British and Irish Lions head to the world-famous Melbourne Cricket Ground with the chance to clinch a second successive series win over the Wallabies.

To do so, head coach Andy Farrell has rolled the dice with eight changes to his wider 23-man squad from last weekend’s opening Test, but as usual, changes present opportunities for players to leave their mark.

Three of his eight changes come in the starting XV. Sione Tuipulotu and Joe McCarthy have pulled out through injury, meaning Bundee Aki and Ollie Chessum come into the starting side, while Andrew Porter starts at loosehead as Ellis Genge shifts to the bench.

Elsewhere, James Ryan, Jac Morgan, Owen Farrell and Blair Kinghorn also get the nod as replacements.

While these changes might paint a picture of players’ good form or fitting the system, some undoubtedly come into the game with a major point to prove. But, just who are those players? Well, here’s our take on exactly that.

James Lowe

This feels a big game for James Lowe, given Farrell’s trust in him. The Ireland international has had a fairly solid tour all told, but we’re yet to properly see him use his big left boot to proper effect, which is arguably his biggest USP. The MCG is a MASSIVE pitch, I mean it was built for cricket and regularly hosts AFL too, so that could allow him to smack the leather off the ball and therefore have his usual influence on the game. His first Test was also spoiled by a blown chance, so he will need to take every opportunity that comes his way, given the continued try-scoring form of main competitor Duhan van der Merwe.

Tommy Freeman

Again, this is his chance to repay the faith Farrell has shown after a very tough first Test. The England back has arguably been one of the Lions’ best performers so far on tour, but he just couldn’t get himself a foothold during last weekend’s clash at Suncorp and came up with some really uncharacteristic errors off the back of it.

Right across the warm-up games, Freeman gave a real point of difference when coming off his wing and almost playing like an extra 13, so if he wants to leave a mark on this Test he needs to do exactly that.

Mack Hansen is also breathing down his neck.

Andrew Porter

This was arguably the biggest eyebrow raiser to come out of Farrell’s selection, even with the major bench changes, so Andrew Porter will need to prove the doubters wrong. Like the above players, he’s actually been pretty solid this tour, particularly at scrum-time, but Ellis Genge has played like a man possessed at times and is already proving to be a key leader within the group as well, so it’s a big call to take him out of the starting side.

His familiarity with the rest of the all-Irish and all-Leinster front-row could be the factor behind it, but that should also see him hit top form quickly.

Owen Farrell

There was always going to be hype around Owen Farrell’s selection, but he just needs to have a carbon copy of his display from Tuesday to silence that noise. He seemed to add that calming influence the Lions needed to guide them through the game against the First Nations and Pasifika XV, and you’d expect him to do that again against the Wallabies.

Seven Wallabies with a point to prove against Lions including ‘destructive’ duo who could ‘turn series on its head’

British and Irish Lions great: ‘Owen Farrell is the best player I’ve played with’

This is also a big chance for him to show he still belongs on the Test stage too, having not featured for nearly two years, but it’s a stage on which he belongs. This is a massive chance for him.

Ronan Kelleher

The lineout has been a massive issue for the Lions this tour, so many thought Jamie George might be given the nod on the bench, but again Farrell has entrusted Ronan Kelleher to go out there and redeem himself.

Kelleher is a solid Test player, proven by his time with Ireland, but he struggled to hit his jumpers upon his arrival into the first Test at Suncorp, and the lineout should be any hooker’s bread and butter, let alone a Test Lion hooker.

If he can remedy those issues, he will likely nail down his spot for the third Test as well.

Blair Kinghorn

Before his injury against the Brumbies, and before his tough outing against the FNP XV, many thought Blair Kinghorn would have been the de facto Test 15, but he has been given the chance to put those woes from Tuesday behind him and show why he is in the Test side.

At full flight, Kinghorn is such a potent attacking threat and, despite throwing two interceptions on Tuesday, he combines that with some strong playmaking skills as well, which make him an ideal option within this Test side. If he comes on and makes a strong impact, he could work himself into the starting line-up for the final Test.

James Ryan

Ireland lock James Ryan was another contentious call, considering the rapid improvement of Scott Cummings after his disaster against the Western Force, but like many of his compatriots, Farrell has trusted him to go and do a job.

Ryan’s work in the lineout could be the key factor behind his selection, and he also has that pre-existing thrower-jumper connection with Kelleher and Sheehan from their time at Leinster and Ireland, but he will need to step up around the park to keep Cummings away from the 23 next week.

READ MORE: Australia v British and Irish Lions preview: ‘Wounded’ Wallabies to ‘slay’ tourists for the good of the series and Rugby Australia

Click here to read article